Diamondbacks Topple Giants 9-4

Brandon Webb added to his Cy Young credentials and the Arizona Diamondbacks opened a commanding 3 1/2-game lead over the San Diego Padres in the National League West Division.

Brandon Webb (16-10) tied his career high for wins in a season Wednesday, and Arizona added to its lead atop the National League West by beating the Giants at AT&T Park behind an 11-hit attack.

Arizona has won seven of its past eight games and now holds a 3 1/2-game advantage over the Padres.

Webb allowed four runs through seven innings in improving to 16-10 with a 2.99 ERA. He also had 16 wins last season when he won the National League Cy Young Award. The sinkerballer should have at least three more starts during the regular season.

The Diamondbacks chased Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez in the fourth inning after they loaded the bases on the left-hander with no outs, although Arizona could only plate one run. Sanchez, who threw 80 pitches, allowed back-to-back home runs in the second inning to Mark Reynolds, his 13th, and Chris Snyder, his 12th.

It took only 22 pitches for Webb to get through the first three innings. He didn't allow a hit until Dave Roberts hit a triple to open the bottom of the fourth. Arizona broke it open in the sixth with a two-run double by Justin Upton and a two-run single by Conor Jackson.

Webb improved to 9-5 lifetime against the Giants.  His next three starts would likely come on the18th against these same Giants, on the 25th in Pittsburgh, and then on the 30th in Colorado.  The 30th is the last game of the season, however, and if the Diamondbacks have already clinched the division, Webb would certainly be held back to pitch the playoff opener. 

LHP Doug Davis, who is 8-1 with a 3.84 ERA over his last 12 starts, makes the start Friday when the Diamondbacks visit the Dodgers for the start of a three-game series. He is 3-1 with an 0.00 ERA in four career starts totaling 30 innings against the Dodgers.

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